HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania lawmakers moved a water-supply requirement closer to a final House vote Monday that would require developers to document planned public water service before receiving final subdivision or land-development approval, potentially affecting the timing of projects across Chester County.
Senate Bill 1287 received second consideration in the House and was re-referred to the Appropriations Committee. The Senate passed the measure 50-0 on June 2, while the House Local Government Committee advanced it 26-0 on Sept. 28.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Keefer, R-31, would amend the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to establish when developers relying on water sources other than individual private wells must provide evidence of planned service.
Current law already requires applicable subdivision and land-development ordinances to require evidence that a project will receive water from a certificated public utility, a cooperative association of lot owners, or a municipal corporation, authority, or utility.
Senate Bill 1287 would add a specific deadline: the evidence must be presented before final subdivision and land-development approval.
Acceptable documentation would continue to include a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Certificate of Public Convenience or an application for one, a cooperative agreement, or a commitment or agreement to serve the development.
The change could affect housing and commercial development schedules in Chester County when applicants reach the final approval stage without securing the required water-service documentation.
The legislation would not require an independent analysis demonstrating that a water system has sufficient capacity for a development, establish a minimum water-supply standard or require proof that an aquifer can support a project. Its statutory change is limited to when the existing water-service evidence must be submitted.
Keefer characterized the proposal in an April sponsor memorandum as addressing an ambiguity in existing law, which specifies the required documentation but does not establish when applicants must produce it.
“While many municipalities treat submission prior to final approval as best practice, it is not uniformly required,” Keefer states.
The requirement would apply through the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, including to covered municipalities in Chester County.
Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47, is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
If the House passes the Senate-approved bill without changes, it would advance to the governor. The legislation specifies that it would take effect 60 days after enactment.
The official bill page is available at https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb1287.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.